Cuomo’s budget receives mixed marks from educators

By
Danielle Sanzone, Troy/The Record

Friday, January 24, 2014

ALBANY >> Education has been in the spotlight this week, with Gov. Andrew Cuomo highlighting education initiatives in his proposed 2014-15 executive budget unveiled on Tuesday and the New York State Education Commissioner addressing Common Core standards on Thursday.

Top topics included Universal Pre-K, teacher incentives, teacher evaluations, school aid, and the ongoing implementation of the Common Core. Cuomo’s proposed budget includes $1.5 billion over a five year period to fund a statewide universal full day pre-K program, $720 million over a five year period to expand after school programs, and a $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act to ensure that children have access to the latest technology.

Overall, the executive budget increases education aid by $807 million, almost 4 percent, for an average increase of nearly $300 per student, officials said. Of the total aid, $608 million will be distributed through a formula and high need school districts will receive more than 70 percent of the 2014-15 allocated increase.

The state will work with school districts to develop an implementation schedule for Pre-K programs. Charter schools will also be eligible for the funding.

“We do not have Pre-K in Waterford-Halfmoon and we are very interested in the potential, especially the potential for funding of classroom space under some of the governor’s proposal,” said Waterford-Halfmoon superintendent Tim Lange. “This potential has us paying close attention, and along with the proposed smart technology vote in November, we’re hopeful.”

Proceeds from the $2 billion bond will fund enhanced education technology in schools, with eligible projects including infrastructure improvements to bring high-speed broadband to both schools and communities within their districts and the purchase of classroom technology for use by students.

Incentives are being given for teachers who are rated “highly effective”. They will be eligible to receive up to $20,000 in annual supplemental compensation through the Teacher Excellence Fund. Some teachers have pointed out that not all teachers will be judged equally for the incentive since poor performing students might be found more in non-suburban districts and special education teachers do not always have high performing students either.

“Will teachers servicing students with special needs attain the same test scores as an English teacher? Probably not,” pointed out Sean Crall, the teachers’ union president in the East Greenbush district. He felt key issues like the Gap Elimination Adjustment were not addressed. He also felt that competitive grants did not help high need schools. “Instead, the money should be given directly to the schools, with some oversight.”

State lawmakers on Thursday questioned NYSED Commissioner John King about the Common Core, with a common thread being that many of their constituents wanted to slow down its implementation in the state.

The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) said a new panel to study the State Education Department’s failed implementation of the Common Core represents an “opportunity for the governor to address the state’s over-reliance on standardized testing and obvious need for major course corrections, including a moratorium to give SED time to get it right,” according to a NYSUT statement.

“While I’m glad that there is more money going towards education, and that more focus is being put on Pre-K and Kindergarten, I don’t think my school is going to see much of the funding, if any,” said Adam Macintyre-Ross, a teacher at Vanderheyden Hall in Troy.

“Any expansion of Pre-K is a step in the right direction, but after all the hype and promises, Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal just does not add up, ” said Billy Easton, executive director of the Alliance for Quality Education. “Calling this a universal full-day Pre-K program is far from accurate; after five years we will be lucky if it covers even 20 percent of the state’s 225,000 four-year-olds.”

And, after talking with his own constituents, Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin said he developed his own education program called the Apple Plan which addresses funding equity and teacher preparedness, among other topics.

NYSUT cited a report on Thursday which stated that 69 percent of school districts in New York have less state aid than they did five years ago.

Most of the school districts in the Capital District saw an increase in state aid. Increases include 5.98 percent for Wynantskill, 3.52 percent for Waterford-Halfmoon, 10.93 percent for Watervliet, 18.01 percent for Troy, 2.36 percent for Shenendehowa, 3.24 percent for South Colonie, 1.06 percent for Saratoga Springs, 2.48 percent for Lansingburgh, 1.95 percent for Hoosic Valley, 6.53 percent for Green Island, and 3.74 percent for Albany. Cohoes’ decreased by 0.48 percent.